Demaryius Thomas’ Mom Katina Smith Watched Her Son Play Football For The First Time On Sunday (Pics)

Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has suited up for 91 NFL games over the last six seasons in the regular season and playoffs combined. However, his 92nd career game on Sunday was unlike any other. And not because the Broncos beat the Steelers to advance to the AFC Championship game. Thomas, as you may recall, has beaten the Steelers in the playoffs before.

What made Sunday’s game special for Thomas was the fact that, for the first time ever, his mother Katina Smith was there. Smith had been serving a 24-year sentence for drug distribution since 2000. However, in July she was one of 46 non-violent drug offenders pardoned by President Obama because their sentences were more severe than current laws would allow.

Demaryius, who was just 11 years old when his mother first went to prison, was taken in and raised by his aunt and uncle. But he still saw his mother, and she followed his career as best she could from prison, even fashioning her own pom-poms out of old newspapers when the Broncos reached the Super Bowl in 2014.

Smith was not allowed to travel for 60 days after being released from prison in November. However, the travel restrictions expired just in time for her to make it to Denver on Sunday. And it certainly looked like she was on cloud nine.